Olivia Williams Gets Real About Life After a Rare Cancer Battle

Acclaimed actress, Olivia Williams, known for playing Camilla Parker Bowles in the final season of Netflix royal drama, “The Crown,” recently opened up about a misdiagnosis that delayed proper treatment for a rare form of cancer. While that might sound like the start of a grim story, Williams is flipping the script with honesty, humor, and some serious resilience.

A Misdiagnosis Almost Cost Everything

In 2018, after enduring four years of persistent symptoms like fatigue, chronic diarrhea, and limb aches, Williams was finally diagnosed, according to her interview with The Times. “It takes an average person with my cancer [a VIPoma cancer within the pancreas] 11 visits to the GP to be diagnosed. For me it was probably about 21 times,” Williams explained. 

Her misdiagnoses ranged from lupus to perimenopause, and even facing a psychiatric assessment referral. By the time the correct diagnosis was made, the cancer had metastasized to her liver, rendering it incurable; and therefore she can never be considered “cancer-free”

“It’s too late for me, and for all these people who are running in the marathon who’ve lost a parent or a friend, who could have been saved by a pancreatectomy [removal of the pancreas] if the cancer had been found before it spread,” the actress continued. Williams has since undergone treatments, including Lutathera, a targeted radiotherapy, to manage the disease. 

Breaking The Silence

Her goal isn’t to gain “sympathy,” instead she wants “early detection with a test that could be as simple as breathing into a bag at your GP” and the good news is she says “we’re incredibly close, we just need to get it over the line,” per The Times.

What makes Williams’ story so powerful isn’t just the medical part; it’s how she’s choosing to talk about it. Celebs often keep health struggles under wraps, and hey, that’s valid. But Williams is doing the opposite. She’s out here being candid, cracking jokes, and reminding people to listen to their guts… literally and figuratively.

Williams will never get the “all clear” on a medical chart, but she’s making it clear she’s not letting cancer define her future.

Where You Can See Her Work

Despite her ongoing health challenges, Olivia Williams continues to captivate audiences with her dynamic performances. Here’s a look at her recent and upcoming projects:​

• Starring in the Max series, “Dune: Prophecy,” a prequel to the renowned “Dune” movie saga, Williams portrays Tula Harkonnen. The show delves into the origins of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, with Williams’ character playing a pivotal role in the unfolding narrative, per The Los Angeles Times. ​The limited series was released November 17, 2024.

• According to Deadline, Williams joined the cast of Amazon Prime’s fantasy epic, “The Wheel of Time,” where she plays Morgase Trakand, a significant character in the series’ expansive universe in Season 3. The series began airing March 13, 2025.

• Williams takes on the role of Beth in the dark comedy film, “The Trouble with Jessica,” that explores the complexities of friendship and unexpected events. ​The movie was shown at film festivals in 2023 and 2024, and is set for an April 25, 2025 theatrical release in the USA.

• Set to portray Alma Reville, the wife of Alfred Hitchcock, Williams is due to appear in the third season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series, “Monster,” per Variety. With the season focusing on the infamous filmmaker and his personal life. ​A release date is yet to be announced.

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